Last night’s glittering award ceremony for the 2016 South Australian Tourism Awards, unveiled this year’s ultimate bucket list of things to do and experience in one of the world’s top five must-see regions for 2017.
Attended by the who’s who of the State’s tourism industry, the event celebrated 30 category winners including some of the usual suspects, with The National Wine Centre, The Frames and Adelaide Oval adding yet another award to their mantlepiece.
Adelaide Oval Tours & Museums has been awarded the Premier’s Award for Service Excellence at the 2016 South Australian Tourism Awards – a new and highly regarded acknowledgment which recognises the finalist across 30 categories who demonstrated the most outstanding customer service experience.
TAFE SA and Yondah Beach House have also been inducted in to the South Australian Tourism Hall of Fame having won their respective categories for the third year in a row.
68 finalists were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals for achieving a high standard in their category.
Deb Alexander received the Outstanding Contribution by an Individual award. Deb is a well respected business woman, tourism activist and advocate, whose involvement within regional tourism projects, committees and the industry on a whole has allowed her to make an exceptional impact on the State’s tourism industry.
Most winners from last night will go on to represent South Australia at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Darwin in February 2017.
2016 South Australian Tourism Awards – WINNERS
Major Tourist Attractions supported by the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources
Winner – Adelaide Central Market
Tourist Attractions supported by Adelaide Casino
Winner – Calypso Star Charters
Major Festival and Events supported by Big Screen Video
Winner – Adelaide Cabaret Festival 2016
Festivals and Events supported by Tourism Australia
Winner – Sounds by the River
Ecotourism supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – Seal Bay
Cultural Tourism supported by Adelaide Casino
Winner – Adelaide Oval Tours & Museums
Qantas Award for Excellence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism supported by Qantas Airways
Winner – Aboriginal Cultural Tours – South Australia
Specialised Tourism Services supported by the South Australian Tourism Industry Council
Winner – Getaways SA
Visitor Information Services supported by the Local Government Association of South Australia
Winner – Tourism Kangaroo Island
Business Event Venue supported by the South Australian Tourism Industry Council
Winner – National Wine Centre of Australia
Major Tour and Transport Operator supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – Wrightsair
Tour and Transport Operators supported by the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources
Winner – Adelaide Haunted Horizon Ghost Tours
Adventure Tourism supported by the Department of Environment, Water & Natural Resources
Winner – Calypso Star Charters
Destination Marketing supported by Adelaide Casino
Winner – Adelaide Convention Bureau
Tourism Restaurants and Catering Services supported by Restaurant & Catering
Winner – The Tasting Room – Mayura Station
Tourism, Wineries, Distilleries and Breweries supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – Seppeltsfield Estate Winery
Caravan and Holiday Parks supported by South Aussie with Cosi
Winner – BIG4 Adelaide Shores Caravan Park
Hosted Accommodation supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – Mulberry Lodge Luxury Country Retreat
Unique Accommodation supported by Woof Media
Winner – Griffens Marina Blanchetown
Self Contained Accommodation supported by the South Australian Tourism Industry Council
Winner – The Frames
Standard Accommodation supported by Aon
Winner – ibis Adelaide
Deluxe Accommodation supported by Barossa Valley Brewing
Hall of Fame and Winner – Yondah Beach House
Luxury Accommodation supported by the South Australian Tourism Commission
Winner – The Playford
New Tourism Business supported by SA Life TV
Winner – Commonwealth Bank RoofClimb Adelaide Oval
Excellence in Food Tourism supported by Eat Local South Australia
Winner – Barossa Valley Cheese Company
Outstanding Contribution by an Individual supported by Qantas Airways
Winner – Deb Alexander
SA Tourism Student of the Year supported by Skal International Adelaide
Winner – Stephanie Murgatroyd
Tourism Education and Training supported by the South Australian Tourism Industry Council
Hall of Fame and Winner – TAFE SA
South Australian Taxi Drivers of the Year supported by the Taxi Council South Australia
Joint Winner – Navjot Singh Randhawa
Joint Winner – Karl Mibus
Premier’s Award for Service Excellence
Winner – Adelaide Oval Tours & Museums